By Kimathi Kamau
NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- One of the millions around the world who tuned in for the Floyd Mayweather versus Colin McGregor Aug. 26 boxing super fight was Olympic champion and Kenyan marathon running super star Eliud Kipchoge.
The two-time London and 2015 Berlin winner was inspired by the display of the unbeaten American who retired at 50-0 with a 10th round victory over Mixed Martial Arts star McGregor that he is out to be the 'Mayweather of marathon'.
On Sep. 24, Kipchoge will line-up against compatriot and former record holder, Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopian great, Kenenisa Bekele in Berlin in his bid to attack the 2:02:57 official standard over the ultimate distance set at the same race by another Kenyan, Dennis Kimetto.
Speaking to journalists in Nairobi on Thursday, Kipchoge underlined his resolve to own the world record having run the fastest ever marathon earlier this year, at the Nike Breaking2 run in the controlled setting of pacing and drafting on a Formula One racecourse in Monza, Italy, outside Milan on May 6.
World body, the IAAF rules of eligibility meant the time is not recognised as a world record and having come close to breaking Kimetto's mark in 2015, Kipchoge believes now is the time to add his name to the illustrious list of marathon record holders.
"About three weeks ago we had a big fight in Las Vegas between Mayweather and McGregor but there was only one winner, that is Mayweather. So, between the three of us there will be only one winner," the philosophical athlete told a local website.
"I don't know but I will be among the three," the twice London winner said when asked whether he would be the 'Mayweather' of the day.
Kipchoge signed a one-year deal to be the ambassador of Japanese car maker, Isuzu D-Max brand, worth 68,000 U.S. dollars where he was presented with a new model of the truck for his training and personal use.
And should he, as expected, smash the world record, Kipchoge will receive a luxury double cabin truck valued at 57,365.09 dollars from the same company.
"This is a boost in my journey to the world record and mentally, it is a good thing for me looking ahead to Berlin. Some percentage of my work is done because of this incentive," the Athens 2004 bronze and Beijing 2008 silver winner at the Olympics in 5000m added.
Kipchoge has won seven out of his eight career marathons thus far, his only defeat coming in 2013 when he ran 2:04:05 to trail Kipsang where it took a then world record of 2:03:23 to relegate him to second.
At 2015 Berlin Marathon, he was inside the world record but the in-soles of his custom made running shoes popped out slowing his final assault but he still came home victorious in 2:04:00 that was the fastest time of the year.
His other victories at the distance came in Rotterdam (2013), Chicago (2014), London (2015 and 16) and the Rio Olympics last summer.
